Mohawk U. Educates Thousands Each Year

Dalton, GA, September 9--Whether you’ve just opened a floorcovering store or have been in business for years, Mohawk University has courses and tools that can improve your bottom line. The training arm of Mohawk Industries teaches thousands of people each year how to become experts in different aspects of the floorcovering business--everything from installation to business operations. Courses can help novices learn the fundamentals, or make seasoned veterans even better. And it’s all done objectively, with no sales or marketing distractions. “Our courses are purely educational,” said Ed Williams, Senior Vice President of Marketing. "They’re open to people who want to become better at their business, and we concentrate on the information that’s going to make that happen.” Courses are taught at the main campus in Dalton, GA, and in more than 100 cities across the United States. Select courses have also been taught internationally, in countries including Canada, Peru, and Russia. Course subjects are extremely varied. They range from basic product knowledge in carpet, ceramic, hardwood, and laminate; to color and design; to leadership and business management. Courses range in length from a day to several days. Some are available in Spanish. A key to Mohawk University’s success is the experience of its trainers. Many are nationally and internationally recognized training professionals, with strong backgrounds in the floorcovering and retail industries. Some of them have run floorcovering stores themselves, so they understand the day-to-day challenges of the business. “We feel that providing our dealers with the information available through Mohawk University is as critical as getting a shipment delivered on time,” said Williams. “Mohawk invests in product development, merchandising and store systems, and—just as important—education. It takes all these things to make a dealer successful in today’s marketplace.” In addition to its series of training classes, Mohawk University also provides a growing collection of training courses on CD-ROM, video, and in print. Courses all qualify for CEU credit—both the classroom and electronic versions. “We want to be the ‘go-to’ resource for information when a dealer needs it,” Williams said. “Mohawk University has literally taken retailers from the verge of bankruptcy to remarkable success.” Mohawk University has been recognized for its work with numerous awards over the years, both from the floorcovering industry and from various training and media organizations. And it keeps getting better. At the end of every training session, students are asked for their thoughts on how to improve the course. This input gets carefully scrutinized—and used. “Thanks to input from students, we’ve been able to identify new industry challenges early on, and incorporate them into our training before they become problems in the field,” Williams said.